Australian senator egged for anti-Muslim remarks

MELBOURNE: Australian Senator Fraser Anning, who was strongly criticised for blaming the New Zealand mosque shootings on Muslim immigration, was egged on Saturday at an event in Melbourne, the international media reported.

The incident came on the back of the Queensland senator supposed condemnation of the Christchurch mosque attacks in which 50 people were killed.

In a video that has been making rounds on social media, a young boy can be seen smashing an egg over the senator’s head as he speaks at a press conference. The teenager was filming on his phone as he smashed the egg on top of Anning’s head.

A visibly shocked Anning can next be seen slapping the young boy’s face in response before a fight breaks out.

The Victoria Police in its statement said they had arrested 17-year-old in connection with the incident.

“Police arrested a 17-year-old male from Hampton after he allegedly threw an egg at a 69-year-old Brisbane man at an address in Moorabbin this afternoon during a planned meeting,” the statement said.

“I am utterly opposed to any form of violence within our community, and I totally condemn the actions of the gunman,” Anning said in his statement that was released after the mosque attacks. “However, whilst this kind of violent vigilantism can never be justified, what it

highlights is the growing fear within our community, both in Australia and New Zealand of the increasing Muslim presence.”

The senator further said that “left-wing politicians and media” would blame gun laws and nationalist views, but “the real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration programme which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.”

He also posted a statement on Twitter in which he tried to draw a link between Muslim immigration and violence.

Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the government will censure the senator. “The remarks by Senator Fraser Anning blaming the murderous attacks by a violent, rightwing, extremist terrorist in New Zealand on immigration are disgusting. Those views have no place in Australia, let alone the Australian parliament.” There is also a petition circulating online calling for the Queensland senator’s resignation.